(no subject)

[madbaker]

I am pleased that MLB banned a player for life for betting on baseball - the first since Pete Rose. That rule is posted prominently in every clubhouse and is well known. He has no excuse.

I am surprised, however, because the players' union has routinely blocked major punishments other times that the rules have been flagrantly broken. (See: Trashtros and Red Sox for their sign-stealing.)
ETA: It's not entirely fair to blame the players' union for the whole thing. The commissioner hasn't had a spine either in acting "in the best interests of baseball" - because if he did, the union would strike and the owners would fire him.

Comments

[rustmon]

I’d agree. I’m glad Ohani’s interpreter got the book thrown at him, but the Astros essentially got away with a slap on the wrist. Hell, they hired Cora back after his suspension….

[cathyn]

Don't leave out the Yankees. They were heavily implicated in the scandal, but somehow avoided even the slap on the wrist that Houston and Boston got, and that's just not right. Yes, I say this as a Yankees fan. I'm the sort that if someone was able to reliably guarantee that I could either see the Yankees win by cheating only, or play fair and always lose, I'd rather see them never win another game.

[madbaker]

Fair point. Me finding out that the Giants stole signs has completely tainted The Shot Heard Round the World.